On November 6, 2026, the 25th session of the 14th National People’s Congress Standing Committee concluded, marking a significant event in China’s political landscape. During this session, various personnel changes were approved, including the dismissal of Chen Fuli from his position as the Deputy Secretary-General of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. This dismissal coincided with Chen’s acceptance of his request to resign from his roles as a member of the Standing Committee and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
It is noteworthy that approximately two months prior, on September 10, 2026, Chen Fuli had been appointed as the Secretary of the Party Group at the National Intellectual Property Administration, succeeding Shen Changyu, who transitioned to a role as the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization. Following customary practices, it is expected that Chen will soon assume the role of Director of the National Intellectual Property Administration as well.
Chen Fuli has a substantial political background, having connections with former Premier Li Keqiang and the current Minister of the Organization Department, Shi Taifeng, as fellow alumni from Peking University’s Law Department. Chen has also had a long-standing association with Li Keqiang’s administration. In March 2018, during the tenure of Zhong Shan, the former Minister of Commerce, Chen was demoted from his position as Director of the Legal Department for International Trade at the Ministry of Commerce to an ostensibly ceremonial role within the National People’s Congress. Eight years later, Chen made a notable comeback, re-entering the State Council in a position with genuine authority. This trajectory is reflective of the complex factional struggles and personnel shifts within the upper echelons of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to publicly available resumes, Chen Fuli was born in November 1968 in Zoucheng, Shandong Province. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Economic Law from China University of Political Science and Law in 1987, followed by a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Amsterdam, and ultimately a Doctorate in International Economic Law from Peking University.
Chen began his career in 1991 at the Shandong Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. In 2002, he transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (the predecessor of the Ministry of Commerce), working in various roles including Deputy Director of the International Trade Legal Division, Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Enterprises Legal Division, and Director of the International Trade Legal Division, among others.
During Li Keqiang’s tenure as Premier and Gao Hucheng’s term as Minister of Commerce from March 2013 to February 2017, Chen was promoted in November 2014 to the position of Deputy Director of the Treaty and Law Division at the Ministry of Commerce. Gao Hucheng is a long-time associate of the Ministry, having served under former Politburo member and Vice Premier Wu Yi. During his time at the Ministry, Gao held several key positions, including Assistant Minister and Director of the Department of Planning and Finance.
In February 2002, following the 16th National Congress of the CCP, Gao Hucheng advanced to become a member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Minister of Commerce. Chen Fuli worked under Gao’s supervision in the Ministry of Commerce for about 15 years.
As the political landscape shifted following the 19th National Congress, Chen Fuli ascended from being the Deputy Director of the Legal Division in October 2017 to the role of a Standing Committee member of the National People’s Congress, assuming his seat in the Foreign Affairs Committee. Nevertheless, in March 2018, less than six months later, he transitioned to a largely nominal role as a member of the 13th National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
It is crucial to highlight that during this time, Zhong Shan, the then-Minister of Commerce, was closely aligned with Xi Jinping, having familial ties to the Zhejiang political elite.
In March 2023, following the 20th National Congress of the CCP, Chen Fuli became a member of the 14th National People’s Congress Standing Committee, advancing from the Foreign Affairs Committee to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs. By September 2023, he held the role of Deputy Secretary-General of the 14th National People’s Congress Standing Committee. Subsequently, in September 2026, he transitioned into the key position of Secretary of the Party Group at the National Intellectual Property Administration.
The National Intellectual Property Administration, under the direct oversight of the State Council, is responsible for patent and trademark matters and coordinates foreign-related intellectual property affairs. Chen’s elevation to this position marks a notable turnaround after an eight-year hiatus from significant roles in the government.
Recent reports pointed out the role of Shi Taifeng, the current Minister of the Organization Department and Chen’s alma mater peer from Peking University, in Chen’s resurgence. Additionally, Chen’s academic journey includes mentorship from renowned legal scholar Shao Jingchun, which links him further into the fabric of the elite legal and political circles in China.
Shao Jingchun, who has previously been in the same university cohort as Li Keqiang and Shi Taifeng, has had a significant influence in academia and policy circles, which reflects the interconnectedness of personal relationships and political ascension within the CCP.
The relationship between Chen Fuli and Shen Changyu, the former Secretary of the Party Group at the National Intellectual Property Administration, is also notable, with both having significant ties to Li Keqiang. Shen, recognized as an expert in molding and mold technology, was appointed to the National Intellectual Property Administration for a substantial tenure, reflecting the importance of loyalty and connections in the party infrastructure.
As the political scenario continues to evolve under Xi Jinping’s leadership, the shifts seen in personnel, including Chen Fuli’s return and Shen Changyu’s new role at the United Nations, illustrate a rich narrative of factional warfare and alignments within the CCP. Chen’s rise to prominence represents a case study in the dynamics of power, loyalty, and the influential role of educational and alumni connections in the Chinese political landscape.
As the political landscape remains complex and multifaceted, the implications of these personnel changes warrant continued scrutiny. The intersection of past affiliations and current roles signals a possible shift in power dynamics that could have lasting consequences for the CCP’s approach to governance and policy in the coming years.